Teaching Australian plays in the English classroom
Bringing a playscript to life in the English classroom can be a daunting task. Our new collection of education resources is designed to help English teachers select and teach Australian plays, with a particular focus on students in Years 7-10.
In Years 7-10, English students in NSW are required to engage meaningfully with at least two drama texts in each Stage. Engaging with Australian plays provides a wonderful opportunity for students to experience texts by Australian authors, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, and texts that explore a range of intercultural and diverse experiences, and a range of cultural, social and gender perspectives.
Yibiyung by Dallas Winmar
About the play: Yibiyung tells the coming-of-age story of playwright Dallas Winmar’s grandmother Yibiyung, who was one of hundreds of girls swept up in the forced removals of the 1920s and trained to become domestic servants.
Recommended for: Year 9+
Themes: connection to culture and Country, growing up
English Textual Concepts explored in the resource: context, character, representation
Click on either button below to be taken directly to the PDF file of the education resource.
Wisdom by David Burton
About the play: Wisdom is a politically charged black comedy that unpacks the value society places on youth, propaganda, and its effect on the public perception of a world in crisis.
Recommended for: Year 7+
Themes: government surveillance, youth and ageing, citizenship
English Textual Concepts explored in the resource: theme, narrative, perspective
Click on the button below to be taken directly to the PDF file of the education resource.
